On 2 March last, as part of the strategic partnership with Liverpool Hope University, Les Facultés de l'Université Catholique de Lille organised the first integration day for 17 Liverpool Hope University students, accompanied by Bryce Evans (Senior Lecturer, Politics, Faculty of Arts and Humanities at LHU) and Faye Sharpe (Student Mobility officer in the International Relations Department at LHU). The objective of the experience is to “break the ice” and to motivate English students to participate in Erasmus mobility in our faculties in the future.

Immersion began at the “Maison de Chercheurs” with a French breakfast during which Ioannis Panoussis (Delegate Dean for International Studies, FD) gave a welcome address, followed by a general presentation about the Faculties by Nazek Maalouli-Odent (Project officer for Les Facultés de l'UCL) and the International Relations coordinators, Anne-Sopie Aviez (FLSH), Isabelle Minez (FD), Elise Milloise (ESPOL) and Isabelle Vitte (FGES).

Following this, the students attended a “Survival French” session conducted by Juliette Aftis (French lecturer at CLARIFE) in the Learning Lab.

After a cultural and linguistic morning, the afternoon was dedicated to discussion time with our student ambassadors and to learning about student life on campus.  Discussions began with a two hour “Ice breaker” activity, prepared by a group of students in LEA (FLSH)

Following this activity, the students were offered a guided tour of the University campus by student ambassadors from Les Facultés de l'UCL.

The day concluded with a big meet-up between ICL and LHU students around a locally brewed beer at the Faluche pub, followed by a typical Thursday student evening!

The integration day for Liverpool Hope students was very popular with all concerned and contributed to the strengthening of the relationship between our two universities and the links with the institutions of Les Facultés de l'UCL.

Feel free to listen to the radio programme “Let’s talk about Liverpool Hope University” during which Apolline Deplanque (FLSH Communication Manager and Coordinator of the Média Lab) interviewed Bryce Evans, Faye Sharpe and Declan Doolin (LHU student):

https://radiouclille.univ-catholille.fr/broadcast/10567-Let-s-talk-aboutLiverpod-Hope-lJniversity

(Article written by Nazek Maalouli-Odent)